[January 28, 2014]SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois
Department of Natural Resources is now accepting grant applications
for the state's Park and Recreational Facility Construction program.
The program will provide grants to eligible local governments for
acquisition, development, construction, rehabilitation or other
capital improvements to park and recreation facilities in Illinois.

For the current fiscal year, grants totaling $25 million are
available through funding provided by the Illinois Jobs Now! capital
program, an initiative of Gov. Pat Quinn. The maximum grant award
for qualifying projects for fiscal 2014 is $2.5 million.

The IDNR
will accept applications from qualifying units of local government
through March 10.

"Public parks and open space shouldn't be a luxury. Everyone has
the right to enjoy recreation opportunities safely and locally. The
investments made through PARC funds are vital to the economies and
health of local communities and their residents," said IDNR Director
Marc Miller. "I want to thank Gov. Quinn for making this long-term
investment in local parks and recreation that will pay long-term
dividends for Illinois communities."

The PARC grants can fund bondable bricks-and-mortar projects that
include demolition, site preparation and improvements for indoor and
outdoor recreation facilities, reconstruction, improvements and
expansion to existing facilities, and new construction. Projects
involving land acquisition for construction of new or expansion of
existing indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, and for open
space and conservation purposes, are also eligible.

Illinois previously invested $50 million in PARC grants for park
districts and other local government projects in 2011, the first
year of the program.

The program will reimburse grant recipients up to 75 percent of
approved project costs. Up to 90 percent reimbursement will be
available to local governments defined as disadvantaged.

This grant program does not replace the annual Open Space
Lands Acquisition and Development program, known as OSLAD. The
PARC projects must be "bondable," according to state guidelines,
which is not required for OSLAD projects. Eligible OSLAD
projects include limited infrastructure costs by rule, while the
PARC program is specifically designed to include support
facilities and encourages infrastructure work.

For more information, details on program eligibility and other
program regulations, visit
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/grants/ or contact the IDNR Division
of Grant Administration, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL
62702-1271; phone 217-782-7481; e-mail
grants@Illinois.gov.